scene 1 Flashcards
(30 cards)
summarise scene 1
description of New Orleans- focuses on the beauty of it
blue piano is introduced- symbolises spirit of the area, example of plastic theatre
pinpoints the racial diversity despite New Orleans being a very diverse area
theme of social class is introduced
primal masculinity
alcoholism and secrecy is introduced
delusions and lies are introduced
tension is created through the loss of Belle Reve
Stanley and Blanche become acquainted and it is tense and awkward at the mention of her past marriage
polka music is played- start of reoccurring moments of distress for Blanche
establishes that old Southern money derives from slavery
how was Stanley introduced in scene 1
primal
animalistic
highly sexual
lower social class- typical working class man
how is Mitch introduced in scene 1
laid back working class man
how is Stella introduced in scene 1
having a clearly different background to Stanley and his friend
submissive wife- traditional 1940’s housewife
passionate for Stanley
passive
how is Blanche introduced in scene 1
pure
delicate
ignorant to how the lower class live
stuck in the past- symbol for the old South
alcoholic
secretive
over enthusiastic when it comes to alcohol and Stella
living in a fantasy
what are the key quotes in scene 1 to do with setting
“it has a raffish charm”
“Elysian Fields”
“atmosphere of decay”
what are the key quotes in scene 1 to do with Stanley
“He heaves the package at her”
“try not to- well- compare him with the other men that we went out with at home”
“animal joy”
“power and pride of a richly feathered male bird among hens”
“he sizes women up at a glance, with sexual classifications, crude images flashing into his mind and determining the way he smiles at them”
“a different species”
what are the key quotes in scene 1 to do with Stella
“mildly”
“a gentle young woman”
“she cries out in protest but manages to catch it: then she laughs breathlessly”
“Stella for star”
what are the key quotes in scene 1 to do with Blanche
“her appearance is incongruous to this setting”
“daintily dressed in a white suit”
“moth”
“springs up”
“she carefully replaces the bottle and washes out the tumbler”
“wild cry”
“ghoul haunted”
“Mr Graves”
“you are the one that abandoned Belle Reve, not I! I stayed and fought for it, bled for it, almost died for it!”
“The boy- the boy died. She sinks back down. I’m afraid I’m- going to be sick!”
explode the quote:
“it has a raffish charm”
raffish- unconventionally attractive- New Orleans is unconventional due to its diversity but the city itself is attractive, not the people there
enticing/enthralling
explode the quote:
“They told me to take a streetcar named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six block and get off at- Elysian Fields!”
Elysian Fields- final resting place of heroic souls in Greek mythology/paradise- forebodes death and tragedy, linked to WW2 soldiers, ironic as it is meant to be beautiful but instead New Orleans is run down and worse than it appears
streetcar named desire- introduces the theme of sexuality and desire, pointing relevance to Blanches past
cemeteries- theme of death, shows the losses that Blanche has had and will come to have (the loss of herself)
explode the quote:
“atmosphere of decay”
erosion
fragmentation
reflects the characters in the play- their sanity erodes and they end up in pieces of their former selves (Blanche specifically)
explode the quote:
“he heaves the package at her”
sexual imagery
introduces Stanley as a very sexual character
establishes their relationship to be mainly physical
he is introduced as a very hegemonic masculine man
explode the quote:
“try not to -well- compare him with the other men that we went out with at home”
shows Stanley is subtly insecure in his masculinity, class and heritage
Stella warns Blanche because she knows how violently he could react- foreboding another violent attack from Stanley towards one of them
explode the quotation:
“animal joy”
metaphorical language
presents Stanley as predatory, primal, unpredictable
animalistic lexis- primal masculine sexuality and force
explode the quotation:
“power and pride of a richly feathered male bird amongst hens”
Stanley is a sex symbol- sees women as his toys, something he can discard when he is finished- embedded patriarchal attitudes in men at this time
intense toxic masculinity- compared to animals links him with being aggressive, sexual and primal
cacophony
explode the quote:
“he sizes women up at a glance, with sexual classifications, crude images flashing into his mind and determining the way he smiles at them”
sexual magnetism- feels he deserves the pleasure woman want to give to him/the attention they give- toxic masculinity, reminder of the sexism that is engrained in most men
reiterating that he thinks women are just his toys and they need him not the other way around- makes him feel more comfortable in his masculinity to be hyper masculine and treat women disgustingly
explode the quote:
“a different species”
reminder of Stanley’s heritage- second generation Polish immigrant
creates the idea that he is subhuman, not like the rest
classism- different to who Blanche and Stella are used to as he is a working class man whereas they grew up around aristocrats
embeds the notion that Stanley is different from them and always will be
animalistic lexis- consistently referencing animals when describing Stanley makes him seem more masculine and dangerous
explode the quote:
“mildly”
Stella is a typical 1940’s housewife- submissive, passive, quiet
damsel in distress- alludes to Romeo and Juliet (doomed since the day they met?)
explode the quote:
“a gentle young woman”
gentle- complete antithesis of Stanley
young- focusing on her appearance and age- contrasts Blanche as she is so focused on her age and tries to hide whereas Stella can bask in the sun and not be insecure- root of Blanche’s hatred?- goes with societal norms of the time as women were classified by their appearances and whether they would be a suitable wife
explode the quote:
“she cries out in protest but manages to catch it: then she laughs breathlessly”
sexual imagery- shows that her relationship with Stanley is only physical attraction, desire and lust, not a psychological bond
theme of sexuality/ desire
explode the quote:
“Stella for star”
sibilance- creates a softness and fragile atmosphere around Stella- epitome of the stereotypical notion of what a woman should be like in the 1940’s
daintily feminine
juxtaposes Blanche (“moth”) and shows that Stella is a beacon of light/hope for everyone
explode the quote:
“her appearance is incongruous to this setting”
she juxtaposes the setting- she still looks and acts aristocratic despite her surroundings being filled with poverty/lower class citizens- represents the Old South clinging on to hopefully be reinstated and for the aristocracy to come back
doesn’t belong where she is- outsider, wont be accepted (by Stanley, who obvious belongs in New Orleans as he is a working class immigrant man)
explode the quote:
“daintily dressed in a white suit”
façade of being pure and innocent - ironic
daintily- appearing more feminine than she actually is- another lie
out of place- doesn’t belong (Old South should not be interfering with New America’s development)
